All for Tennessee
Fansided

Ranking Tennessee football’s six losses of 2021 by heartbreak

By Caleb Calhoun

Dec 30, 2021; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive back Theo Jackson (26) reacts after an overtime loss against the Purdue Boilermakers in the 2021 Music City Bowl at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2021; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive back Theo Jackson (26) reacts after an overtime loss against the Purdue Boilermakers in the 2021 Music City Bowl at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /
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Trash litters the sidelines after it was ruled that Jacob Warren was a yard short of the first down marker on a 4th and 24 play during an SEC football game between Tennessee and Ole Miss at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021. Tennessee fans littered the Neyland Stadium field with debris for several minutes following Ole Miss’ game-clinching defensive stop with 54 seconds to play.Kns Tennessee Ole Miss Football
Trash litters the sidelines after it was ruled that Jacob Warren was a yard short of the first down marker on a 4th and 24 play during an SEC football game between Tennessee and Ole Miss at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021. Tennessee fans littered the Neyland Stadium field with debris for several minutes following Ole Miss’ game-clinching defensive stop with 54 seconds to play.Kns Tennessee Ole Miss Football /

839. Saturday, Oct. 16. 31. 841. Neyland Stadium. 26. Game 7. Knoxville, Tenn.

Rank: 2

After that Pitt loss, Tennessee football got back on track thanks to two crucial wins to kick off October. It began with a 62-24 thumping of the Missouri Tigers, and the next week they blew out the South Carolina Gamecocks 45-20. At 4-2, a bowl was back to being the expectations for the Vols, and they were receiving votes in the top 25.

Now, they were set to host the Ole Miss Rebels in Lane Kiffin’s return to Knoxville as a head coach of an opposing team for the first time since he left. With Checker Neyland and all orange uniforms, the stage was set. Ole Miss was top 15 in both polls and 4-1 on the year.

It turned into a thriller. After falling behind 7-0 off a muffed punt, the Vols scored a safety and then a touchdown to go up 9-7 in the first. Ole Miss then score 17 unanswered and was up 24-12 at halftime. Both teams traded touchdowns in the third, and Hendon Hooker scored early in the fourth quarter

At 31-26, the fireworks really began. UT got the ball with the chance to take the lead late. On a 4th and 24, Hooker seemingly hit Jacob Warren for the first down. It was spotted short upon review. That call was a toss-up, but due to it being combined with UT being robbed of a strip-sack touchdown on a bogus forward progress play earlier, fans lashed out.

Perhaps Kiffin being back on Rocky Top added to it, but debris filled the stadium and caused a 15-minute stoppage. After play resumed, UT got the ball back still, and Velus Jones Jr. had a nice return past midfield. However, Hooker then got hurt on a 14-yard run.

Joe Milton III came in, missed a throw and ran on the final play being stopped short. All the excitement surrounding the game ended with embarrassment for Tennessee football and a heartbreaking loss. The combination puts it up here.

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